Home
1-877-404-7464
experts@danforthdiamond.com
Live Chat: ...
  • Diamonds
    • Loose Diamonds
    • Diamond Education
    • Ring Buying 101
    • Diamond Certification
    • Shopping on the Web
  • Engagement Rings
    • Wedding Ring Sets
    • Solitaires
    • Engagement Rings with Sidestones
    • Engagement Rings with Gemstones
    • All Engagement Rings
  • Wedding Rings
    • Diamond Wedding Rings
    • Men's Wedding Rings
    • Women's Wedding Rings
    • Wedding Rings with Gemstones
    • All Wedding Rings
  • Jewelry
    • Earrings
    • Necklaces
    • Bracelets
    • Fashion Rings
  • FAQ
  • Learning Center
    • Diamond Education
    • Ring Buying 101
    • Metal Education
    • Customer Services
    • About Us
  • Log In
  • My Wish List
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

Top Sellers

https://www.danforthdiamond.com/

Details Add to Cart Price: $0.00

14K White Gold Round Three Stone Ring With Trellis Setting (.50 ct. tw.)

Add a Diamond!
Details Add to Cart Price: $1,180.00

14K White Gold Engraved Engagement Ring with Round Channel Set Diamond Side Stones (.20 ct. tw.)

Add a Diamond!
Details Add to Cart Price: $750.00

https://www.danforthdiamond.com/

Details Add to Cart Price: $0.00

https://www.danforthdiamond.com/

Details Add to Cart Price: $0.00

Testimonials

Thank you to everyone at Danforth Diamond! My ring arrived today, and it's absolutely perfect. The only part I didn't like was having to wait for it to get here!

Best,
Liz

Home
Learning Center
Ring Buying 101
Engagement Ring Buying Guide
Chat Now!

Engagement Ring Buying Guide

What to Know Before You Pop the Question: The Complete Diamond Engagement Ring Buying Guide
Diamond Buying Guide: Table of Contents
[Link all of the chapters and sub-headings below to their appropriate section in the guide via anchors]
1) Your Introduction to Diamond-Buying
2) Defining a Budget
3) Choosing Your Diamond
a) The 4 C’s of Diamond-Buying
b) Diamond Certification
3) Choosing the Right Ring
a) Diamond Shape
b) Bands and Setting
3) Shopping with Confidence
6) Engagement Ring Glossary
1. Your Introduction to Diamond-Buying [Link to Table of Contents]
Congratulations! You’ve met that special someone with whom you want to spend the rest of your life. While that is a major accomplishment in itself, there are still many other decisions that need to be made. From asking for her father’s permission to choosing the right time to pop the big question, you have a lot of planning to do. So where do you begin? Start by choosing the perfect diamond engagement ring.
Choosing an engagement ring is a much larger decision than it may seem. A diamond engagement ring is more than just a piece of jewelry; it’s a symbol of your commitment and journey as a couple. 
So it’s important to make the right decision. Luckily, this guide can help.
2. Defining a Budget [Link to Table of Contents]
While it may be difficult to put a budget on your love, it is important to be practical about what kind of ring you can afford. You don’t want to lock yourself into a situation where you are spending the first ten years of your marriage trying to pay off the engagement ring you purchased.
Traditionally, the standard is for a man to spend the equivalent of two month’s salary on an engagement ring. This should serve as a solid starting point for choosing the right diamond engagement ring, but know that you are always free to choose a different approach. 
Another budget-conscious decision you have to make is whether to purchase a custom ring or buy a pre-made design. By choosing a custom diamond engagement ring, you can expect to pay a little more, but you will have a ring that was specifically created for your special someone. 
One way to get the best of both worlds is to choose to purchase your diamond engagement ring from an online jewelry store because it eliminates the need for sales representatives. You get to be in complete control of the buying process and save money on your purchase.

What to Know Before You Pop the Question: The Complete Diamond Engagement Ring Buying Guide

Download a PDF version of the Diamond Engagement Ring Buying Guide

Diamond Buying Guide: Table of Contents

  1. Your Introduction to Diamond-Buying
     
  2. Defining a Budget
     
  3. Choosing Your Diamond
    - The 4 C’s of Diamond-Buying
    - Diamond Certification

  4. Choosing the Right Ring
    - Diamond Shape
    - Bands and Settings

  5. Shopping with Confidence
     
  6. Engagement Ring Glossary
  Getting Engaged

1. Your Introduction to Diamond-Buying

Congratulations! You’ve met that special someone with whom you want to spend the rest of your life. While that is a major accomplishment in itself, there are still many other decisions that need to be made. From asking for her father’s permission to choosing the right time to pop the big question, you have a lot of planning to do. So where do you begin? Start by choosing the perfect diamond engagement ring.

Choosing an engagement ring is a much larger decision than it may seem. A diamond engagement ring is more than just a piece of jewelry; it’s a symbol of your commitment and journey as a couple. 

So it’s important to make the right decision. Luckily, this guide can help.

Back to Table of Contents

 

2. Defining a Budget

While it may be difficult to put a budget on your love, it is important to be practical about what kind of ring you can afford. You don’t want to lock yourself into a situation where you are spending the first ten years of your marriage trying to pay off the engagement ring you purchased.

Traditionally, the standard is for a man to spend the equivalent of two month’s salary on an engagement ring. This should serve as a solid starting point for choosing the right diamond engagement ring, but know that you are always free to choose a different approach. 

Another budget-conscious decision you have to make is whether to purchase a custom ring or buy a pre-made design. By choosing a custom diamond engagement ring, you can expect to pay a little more, but you will have a ring that was specifically created for your special someone. 

One way to get the best of both worlds is to choose to purchase your diamond engagement ring from an online jewelry store because it eliminates the need for sales representatives. You get to be in complete control of the buying process and save money on your purchase.

Back to Table of Contents

 

3. Choosing Your Diamond

When it comes time to start shopping for the perfect diamond, it’s important to keep budget fresh in your mind. Your budget will help guide you through making all the important decisions associated with cut, clarity, color, carat and shape. 

The 4 C’s of Diamond-Buying

The 4 C’s of diamond-buying should be the main criteria you use to choose diamond engagement rings. Whether shopping in a store or online, you need to understand the importance of cut, color, clarity and carat. 

Diamond Cut

A diamond cut refers to the angles and proportions a diamond craftsman uses to create a polished diamond for engagement rings. There are a variety of different diamond cuts to choose from, and the different cuts will alter the look of your finished product. 

The main diamond cuts include:

Cut Description
Ideal
Cut
An ideal cut diamond reflects nearly all light that enters the stone through the top. This cut is designed to maximize the brilliance of a diamond and yields the highest possible grades of symmetry and polish. Ideal Cut Depth - 59-62.7%
Table - 53-58%
Girdle - Thin to slightly thick
Culet - None to medium
Symmetry & Polish - Excellent to Very Good
Very
Good
Cut
This type of diamond usually sacrifices a little brilliance for a larger size. These are a cost-effective option and a manageable alternative to ideal cut diamonds. Very Good Cut Depth- 58.6-63%
Table- 53-62%
Girdle- Very thin to thick
Culet - None to medium
Symmetry & Polish- Excellent to Good
Good
Cut
These are still considered quality diamonds, but when compared to the other options they show a significant lack in brilliance. Good Cut Depth- 56.6-64.7%
Table- 53-64%
Girdle- Very thin to Very thick
Culet - None to medium
Symmetry & Polish- Excellent to Good
Fair
& Poor
Cut
In most cases, these diamonds lack the ability to reflect a sufficient amount of light. They are usually shallow or deep cut and can be found at discounted prices.

Diamond Color

A diamond’s color refers specifically to the presence of any color in your diamond. The important thing to understand about diamond color is that a perfect diamond is colorless. You do not want to choose a diamond that is cloudy or slightly yellowed. 

The closer a stone is to being colorless, the more valuable the diamond becomes. Colorless diamonds are very rare and more valuable because they allow much more light to pass through the stone. 

There is an alphabetical scale used to represent a diamond’s color. This scale was developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The top of the scale, representing a colorless diamond, is graded with a D, while the lowest end of the scale, resulting in a brown or yellow diamond, is a Z. 

Ideally, you want to purchase a diamond in the D-F range, as they are nearly perfect and very valuable. However, if that type of diamond does not fit in your budget, a diamond rated G-J will contain slight color, but nothing that is visible to the untrained eye.

Diamond Clarity

Diamond clarity solely depends on the presence or absence of tiny inclusions, or birthmarks, which occurred when the diamond was forming. Inclusions can affect the amount of light in the diamond, reducing its sparkle.

Clarity Description
F-IF Diamonds falling in this range usually have no internal inclusions. These diamonds are very rare and also the most highly valued.
VVS1-VVS2 These diamonds feature very small inclusions that are nearly impossible to detect, even under magnification. Diamonds in this category are a very practical option for saving money without sacrificing quality.
VS1-VS2 These diamonds feature minute inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye and sometimes difficult to see even under magnification.
SI1-SI2 The diamonds that fall in this grade range feature inclusions that are visible under magnification and slightly visible to the eye in some cases.
I1-I3 These diamonds feature inclusions that are easily seen with magnification and visible to the naked eye.

Diamond Carat

This one is the biggie. While all of the 4 C’s are important, for your significant other and her friends, it’s all about the diamond carat size. You can bet that is one of the most common questions her friends will be asking. But as an informed shopper, you know that the carat actually refers to the weight of a diamond, and not its size. 

Diamond Carat Chart

So how do you choose the right carat size? It actually depends on a variety of factors.

If it’s important for you and your bride-to-be to purchase a higher quality diamond, you may want to choose a smaller carat to accommodate your budget. However, if you know carat will be the most important factor for your special someone, you may want to select your ideal carat size and adjust the other 4 C’s to better match your budget. The important thing is to find a delicate balance between carat weight and brilliance.

Diamond Certification

Getting a certificate with your diamond is vital. It’s the blueprint of your loose diamond. It shows all the exact properties of your diamond including weight, cut and quality. If you ever have your diamond stolen or misplaced, your diamond certification will facilitate its replacement with a diamond of comparable quality. 

While a diamond certificate is not a guarantee, appraisal or valuation, it is an important document that can help you understand more about your diamond.

Diamond Engagement Ring Certification

Back to Table of Contents

 

4. Choosing the Right Ring

While learning about how to choose a great diamond is helpful, it still doesn’t get to the heart of how you will choose your diamond engagement ring. You want to choose the ring that fits your girlfriend’s personality, style and taste. Shopping diamond engagement rings is a personal experience, so keep that in mind. 

Diamond Shape

Diamond shape is one of the best ways to customize your girlfriend’s diamond engagement ring. With so many unique styles to choose from, it should be easy to find one that suits your bride-to-be. All of the 4 C’s still apply when you are choosing a diamond shape, but you have more options to choose from. 

Some of the most common diamond shapes include:

• Princess Diamond Shapes • Pear Shape Diamonds • Radiant Shape Diamonds • Trillion Shape Diamonds
• Emerald Shape Diamonds • Marquise Shape Diamonds • Cushion Shape Diamonds • Baguette Shape Diamonds
• Oval Shape Diamonds • Heart Shape Diamonds • Asscher Shape Diamonds  

Diamond Engagement Ring Certification

Diamond Bands

Diamond bands are also an important part of the diamond engagement ring process. You can choose between a variety of metals and manufacturing methods to further customize your diamond engagement ring. Based on other jewelry your girlfriend wears and her unique style, you should be able to choose the perfect engagement ring band. 

Choose from the following precious metals:

  • Gold (White or Yellow Gold)
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Silver

Each metal has its pros and cons; the important thing is to choose a metal that will best suit your special someone. 

Back to Table of Contents

 

5. Shopping with Confidence

Odds are you know your girlfriend better than anyone else. She’s your best friend and your soul mate, she’s the reason you’re buying a diamond engagement ring. So it’s important to enter the engagement ring shopping process with confidence. Trust that you know your girlfriend and that you will be able to choose the perfect ring for her. 

Keep in mind the 4 C’s and remember all you’ve learned about shape, metals and bands. Finding a traditional or online jewelry store that offers engagement ring experts will help you choose the perfect ring. Don’t be intimidated by the process and don’t feel pressured by the salespeople, take your time, ask questions and find the right ring at the right price. 

Back to Table of Contents

 

6. Diamond Engagement Ring Glossary

Danforth Diamond is committed to helping educate consumers on how to choose the perfect diamond engagement ring. As a retailer of affordable diamond engagement rings, they understand the diamond-buying process better than anyone. 

Use this handy glossary to help you stay educated when shopping for diamond engagement rings:

Back to Table of Contents

Use the links below to continue your engagement ring education:

  • Engagement Ring Buying Guide
  • How to Buy an Engagement Ring Online
  • Set a Budget
  • How to Determine a Ring Size
  • Match Her Style
  • Glossary
  • Metal Education
  • Choosing the Right Metal for your Ring
  • Diamond Engagement Ring and Band Styles

For additional information, visit our Learning Center.

Ready to buy? Start shopping for your perfect diamond engagement ring now.

About Us

Who We Are
Testimonials
Press Releases
Legal & Privacy Policies
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Sitemap

Customer Services

30-Day Return Policy
Shipping Policy
International Order Info
Payment, Ordering and Insurance
Lifetime Warranty
Gift Packaging
Need Your Ring Resized?
Jewelry Directory

Learning Center

Diamond Education
Ring Buying 101
Metal Education
About Us

 

Romantic Tips

Knowing the Right Time to Propose
8 Great Marriage Proposal Ideas
How to Get a Man to Propose
Proposal Mistakes
After the Proposal
Honeymoon Ideas
Romantic Gestures


Danforth Diamond, LLC BBB Business Review
Shop Wiki Approved Harmony Recycled Precious Metals We offer diamonds graded by GIA McAfee Secure sites help keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams Stop Blood Diamonds